[The course and forms of epileptic attacks of the absence type in childhood]

In the modern literature the fits of absence type are divided into two groups: absence only and absence with generalized tonic-clonic convulsions, without considering whether absence episodes preceded the tonic-clonic seizures, or whether in early childhood tonic-clonic seizures appeared as first and absence attacks supervened later. In the light of an analysis of own material the authors believe this it is necessary to isolate a group of children in whom the absence attacks were preceded in early childhood by generalized tonic-clonic seizures, sometimes regarded as febrile seizures. In these children absence attacks appeared additionally usually at the age of 5-7 years, were mostly atypical. With prolonged duration and with evident motor component, simple myoclonias or automatism. These attacks are difficult to control. It may be possible that this is a separate form of childhood epilepsy, both from the standpoint of nosology and genetics. The course of this form is different and the prognosis is worse.